11/10/2017 BeefTalk: The Challenge of Cow Size | TSLN.comhttp://www.tsln.com/news/opinion-news/b ... -cow-size/ 1/2BeefTalk: The Challenge of Cow SizeKris RingwallNDSU Extension Beef SpecialistNovember 2, 2017Size has been the common denominator in revenue generation for cow-calf, backgrounding and feedlotoperators.The process of raising cattle has been quite steady, with a general acknowledgment that growth is key tosuccess.That is a true statement because calf weight, the product of the cow-calf producer, and carcass weight, theproduct of the feedlot, drive total dollars. What also is true is that bigger cows producer bigger calves, but thediscussion becomes clouded when factoring mature cow size into the discussion.Often, cow size discussions open debate rather than offer further understanding of the issue. Dollars generatedas take-home pay depend on net return above expenses, labor and management and, ultimately, offer a returnon assets, which are not totally driven by the physical growth of the calf. The challenge is realizing that this issuehas three distinct players: the cow, the bull and the calf, which have grown in physical size.The impact on the maternal and paternal animals and progeny is simply larger cattle. Calf growth, at leastamong those harvested, is a function of time. Bulls are selected to produce progeny that fit marketspecifications, so mission accomplished. The same is true for the cows, except herds have more cows and theymust be maintained year-around.The cow is the progenitor and the caregiver for the progeny, which means she carries the bulk of the expenses.As a result, cost control and production efficiency must come from the cow. Heifers (future cows) are abyproduct of a very fine-tuned steer production system. Thus the dilemma: How are the cows replaced andappropriately sized if they are simply the counterpart of fast-growing steers?Producers need to be cognizant as expenses creep upward while trying to maintain an ever-increasing size ofthe maternal unit, the cow. The solution is finding moderately sized cows that produce steers that meet currentmarket desires and specifications.Simply put, cattle are not near their maximum capacity for growth and mature size. Cattle simply will keepgetting bigger. Somewhere, producers must implement breeding systems that will develop cattle that moderatematernal growth.Let's focus on 300 pounds of cow rather than the actual size of the cow. So regardless of the size of a cow, theissue for the day is 300 pounds of cow weight.What does that mean, and how does 300 pounds of additional cow weight impact beef production? TheDickinson Research Extension Center has focused on two cow herds that differ in mature weight by 300 pounds.The numbers are not exact, but the principle is there. Let's just say, as a beef producer, one can decide to addor subtract 300 pounds to the mature weight of the cow herd.

What's the impact? For the past three years, the center has been feeding heifers individually to get a handle onthe difference between the calves from large-framed cows and smaller-framed cows. The heifers' daily dietshave been the same.Essentially, the heifers have been eating approximately 2.2 percent of their body weight, so let's assume theseheifers will continue to eat 2.2 percent of their body weight for their productive lives. Feed consumption willchange through time, but again, let's not get lost in the decimal places; the point is 300 pounds of mature weight.So the extra 300 pounds times 2.2 percent is 6.6 pounds of feed per day. In a year, 6.6 pounds times 365 daysmeans 2,409 pounds of feed may be consumed to sustain the extra 300 pounds of mature cow weight.Let's review the two cow sizes at the center. Based on total cow weight, a 1,400-pound cow would consume30.8 pounds a day, or 11,242 pounds per year. In four years, the cow would have consumed 44,968 pounds offeed.The 1,100-pound cow would have consumed 24.2 pounds per day, or 8,833 pounds per year. In four years, thecow would have consumed 35,332 pounds of feed, or 9,636 pounds less than the 1,400-pound cow.That 9,636 pounds of feed directly relates to the 9,636 pounds of extra feed needed to add 300 pounds ofmature weight to a cow. In simple terms, reducing cow size 300 pounds saves enough feed to support oneadditional cow for four years.Let me repeat: If the center has 44,968 pounds of feed, the producer could feed four 1,400-pound cows or five1,100-pound cows. By lowering cow size 300 pounds, a producer can support an extra cow with roughly thesame amount of feed every four years.Yes, cattle growth is important, but controlling expenses is as well. The actual size of cow is not as critical as theconcept of simply lowering cow weight to lower expenses. At the same time, those 20 percent more cows willoffer 20 percent more calves, the real benefit of trying to lower cow size within a herd.What is the right cow size? The answer will vary, but think about it. The impact is real.May you find all your ear tags.

Not trying to be argumentative but this is the same guy that has spent the last ten yrs. selling epds. The bigger the better concept. Managing growth curves in cattle will always be a challenge for me. Finding cattle that have yearling frame scores of 5.5 to 6.5 and then mature at 5 frame score is not real easy but it can be done.

Ignorance of "EPD's" is the only way that EPD's have been a "bigger is better" concept. We were all told of the upcoming "Frame Creep" when breeding for growth only characteristics. Excessive feeder calf & cow feed costs are very well laid out in the article..............

I'm just glad to be past the days when it took a year to get a feeder steer to 400- 500 lbs. Now even moderately sized cows can produce 205 day weaning weights in excess of that.

We've come a long way in the past 30-40 years with partial thanks to those who employed EPD's correctly..

I would like to see more RFI data on smaller cattle. It's out there on the more "progressive" angus sires and I can fairly easily make a 1,400lb cow that eats like an 1,300 pound cow using that information. The problem is that I want to make a 1,100lb cow that eats like a 900lb cow and everyone with those genetics seems to just assume that they eat less because they are small so they never seem to go on test.